sitting

Multiple Entries:
  sitting    sit  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sitting/ˈsɪtɪŋ/

▶noun

• 1 a period or spell of sitting.

• 2 a period of time when a group of people are served a meal.

▶adjective

• 1 in a seated position.

• 2 currently present or in office.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sit/sɪt/

▶verb (sits, sitting; past and past part. sat /sat/)

• 1 be or cause to be in a position in which one's weight is supported by one's buttocks rather than one's feet and one's back is upright.

  ■ (of an animal) rest with the hind legs bent and the body close to the ground.

  ■ (of a table or room) have enough seats for.

  ■ (sit for) pose for (an artist or photographer).

  ■ N. Amer. not use (a player) in a game.

• 2 be or remain in a particular position or state.

  ■ (sit with) be harmonious with.

• 3 (of a parliament, committee, court of law, etc.) be engaged in its business.

  ■ serve as a member of a council, jury, or other official body.

• 4 Brit. take (an examination).

• 5 [usu. in combination] look after children, pets, or a house while the parents or owners are out or away: they want me to house-sit for them.

• 6 (of a bird) remain on its nest to incubate its egg.

▶noun a period of sitting.

– phrases
sit tight informal

• 1 remain firmly in one's place.

• 2 refrain from taking action or changing one's mind.

– phrasal verbs
sit in attend a meeting without taking an active part.
sit in for temporarily carry out the duties of.
sit on informal

• 1 fail to deal with.

• 2 subdue or suppress.

sit something out not take part in an event or activity.

■ wait without taking action until an unwelcome situation or process is over.

sit up

• 1 move from a lying or slouching to a sitting position.

• 2 refrain from going to bed until later than usual.

– origin OE sittan, of Gmc origin.

usage: It is good English to use the present participle sitting rather than the past participle sat with the verb ‘to be’: we were sitting there for hours rather than we were sat there for hours.